Create New Orders In Shopify From New Submissions In Paperform

In today's digital-first business environment, streamlining administrative processes isn't just convenient—it's essential for growth. One common pain point for many businesses is the inefficient process of collecting customer information in one system and then manually transferring it to another. This case study explores how a high-end interior business solved this exact problem by integrating Paperform with Shopify using Make automation.

The Challenge: Double Data Entry Slowing Business Growth

Before implementing the integration, the business faced a common workflow challenge:

• Staff would conduct site visits with clients
• Initially, they entered information directly into Shopify's backend during meetings
• To appear more professional, they switched to paperforms
• This required staff to manually transfer data into Shopify later
• As the business grew to 3-4 field staff, the double-entry process became a significant time drain

The Solution: Paperform to Shopify Integration

The solution involved creating a seamless connection between Paperform's custom form builder and Shopify's e-commerce platform:

1. Custom forms were created in Paperform to match the data requirements
2. Make (formerly Integromat) was used as the automation platform
3. Data fields were carefully mapped between both systems
4. An automation workflow was established to instantly create Shopify orders from Paperform submissions

While the actual automation in Make was relatively straightforward, the real work happened behind the scenes—ensuring that data collected in Paperform would properly translate to Shopify's order structure.

Implementation Process

The implementation required several key steps:

1. Form Design: Creating professional, user-friendly custom forms in Paperform
2. Data Mapping: Ensuring form fields are aligned with Shopify's order requirements
3. System Adjustments: Making necessary tweaks to both Paperform and Shopify configurations
4. Automation Setup: Building the connection in Make to transfer data automatically
5. Testing: Verifying accurate data transfer across systems

Business Benefits Realized

The integration delivered multiple tangible benefits:

Increased Efficiency

Eliminated redundant data entry, saving hours of administrative work each week

Enhanced Professionalism

Staff now present custom-branded forms on iPads instead of showing the Shopify backend

Improved Accuracy

Reduced human error by eliminating manual data transfer

Faster Order Processing

Orders now appear in Shopify immediately rather than after delays of 1-2 days.

Better Customer Experience

Clients appreciate the streamlined, professional process.

Technical Implementation Details

The Make automation workflow connects Paperform triggers with Shopify actions:

1. When a new form submission is received in Paperform, Make detects it
2. The data is formatted according to Shopify's requirements
3. A new order is automatically created in Shopify with all relevant details

The key to success was the careful mapping of form fields to Shopify order fields, ensuring that all required information was transferred correctly.

Lessons Learned

Several important insights emerged from this project:

• Thorough planning of data structure before implementation saves significant time
• Understanding both systems' data requirements is critical
• Simple automation can deliver major business impacts when they address workflow bottlenecks
• Digital transformation doesn't always require complex solutions—sometimes connecting existing tools is sufficient

Implementing This Solution For Your Business

If you're facing similar challenges with manual data entry between your form system and Shopify, consider these steps:

1. Audit your current process to identify specific inefficiencies
2. Map out exactly what data needs to be transferred between systems
3. Consider whether Paperform meets your form requirements (or explore alternatives like Typeform, JotForm, etc.)
4. Evaluate automation platforms (Make, Zapier, Automate.io) based on your specific integration needs
5. Start with a simple proof-of-concept before full implementation

Conclusion

By connecting Paperform to Shopify through Make automation, this interior design business transformed a cumbersome manual process into a streamlined digital workflow. The result was not just time savings but also enhanced professionalism, improved customer experience, and faster order processing.

This case study demonstrates how relatively simple integrations between existing business systems can deliver significant operational improvements without requiring major software overhauls.

For businesses looking to optimize their customer data collection and order processing workflows, the Paperform to Shopify integration provides an effective and accessible solution.

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